PHILADELPHIA -- Chip Kelly orchestrated another of his efficient practices Saturday, with a fast tempo, maximum repetitions and teaching breaks in between.

Then the new Philadelphia Eagles coach tap-danced.

Kelly won't name Michael Vick (or Nick Foles, for that matter) as his starting quarterback yet, even though Vick took the bulk of the first-team reps during an open-house practice attended by an estimated 20,000 fans at Lincoln Financial Field -- and even though Vick was spectacular in the first two preseason games.

And even though, by the way, Vick is a better fit than Foles for the read-option twists that helped Kelly's offense flourish at Oregon.

"I'd love to name a starting quarterback right now," Kelly said during a post-practice news conference.

More data. Hasn't he seen enough? The third preseason game -- which Kelly admits, and this is part of his fresh appeal as an NFL newcomer, means little because he's not beholden to NFL traditions -- is less than a week away.

"We're going through the process," he said. "We've got a little bit of time here."

The way I see it, Kelly might also be taking his time to keep the heat turned up on Vick, who has responded well to the threat of being beaten out by Foles.

Maybe Kelly likes the edge that a quarterback competition adds to the training camp environment. If the leader of the team has to sweat it out, what does that say for the third-string cornerback?

"I don't think of it that way," Kelly said. "That's just what the situation is."

Although Vick has completed 86.7% of his passes in preseason and has a 113.2 passer rating (Foles: 65.5), Kelly maintains that there are still many variables to weigh. Leadership. Play selection. Ability to bounce back from adversity. Ability to stand strong against a pass rush. And so on.

Another variable: Vick, who was quick to exhibit leadership during the racially charged Riley Cooper crisis, is super-mellow about Kelly's reluctance to name him the starter.

Would Vick be shocked if he did not win the starting job?

"I wouldn't be shocked," Vick told USA TODAY Sports. "Even if I weren't named the starter, I'm still going to help this team out and I'd just have to look forward to my future. At the same time, I'd understand that this is the team I'm on and my name may be called at some point."

Say what? I know I'd be shocked if Vick isn't the starter.

That he's politically correct in publicly expressing himself -- when you suspect that deep down inside the competitor wanted it settled way before now -- says something about 33-year-old Vick's maturity.

Judy Smith, the crisis manager who helped Vick re-arrange his life after leaving prison following the dogfighting-related conviction, would be so proud.

In any event, Kelly has had to find out exactly what he's dealing with in Vick.

Shortly after Kelly was hired, former Dallas Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson told me that he wouldn't count out Vick because he still possesses the rare talent -- rocket arm, super-fast legs -- that cannot be taught.

The challenge for coaches is always to tap the talent so that it works. And maybe that's where Vick is headed with Kelly.

Kelly mentioned how he's been impressed with Foles' ability to bounce back from adversity; the same could be said of Vick.

Before Saturday, the last time I saw Vick was in late December, when he figured his run in Philadelphia was over and was prepared to play his final home game at The Linc.

A lot of others shared that sentiment, which went hand-in-hand with Andy Reid's imminent departure.

Vick was a goner. Or so we thought.

He, too, has shown an ability to bounce back.

"What I'm most proud of is that I've gotten the best out of myself when I felt like I needed to," Vick told me. "To be able to do that says a lot about my character."

It was interesting to watch Vick run the offense during Saturday's practice. As was the case with Foles and the other quarterbacks, including Matt Barkley, the pace was ramped up during the 11-on-11, no-huddle segments.

During his first 11-on-11 series, Vick took 11, 15 and 20 seconds to snap the ball.

Whew. That was fast.

Then he came back on the next sequence and after huddling up on the first play, ripped off plays that took six, nine and seven seconds for the snap.

"If you can't adjust to that tempo," Vick said, "it's not going to work for you."

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Josh Bellamy (8) is congratulated by tight end Kevin Brock (46) during the second half of the game against the Green Bay Packers at Arrowhead Stadium.
Denny Medley, USA TODAY Sports

New York Jets tight end Konrad Reuland (88) fumbles after being hit by Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Emmanuel Acho (53) during the first half of a preseason game at Metlife Stadium.
Joe Camporeale, USA TODAY Sports

San Diego Chargers running back Ryan Mathews (24) leaps towards the end zone prior to scoring a touchdown in the first quarter against the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason game at University of Phoenix Stadium.
Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) is tackled by San Diego Chargers cornerback Marcus Gilchrist (38) in the second quarter during a preseason game at University of Phoenix Stadium.
Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports

New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith (7) scrambles in his own end zone out of bounds against the New York Giants during the second quarter of a preseason game at MetLife Stadium.
Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Brian Leonard (30) is stopped at the one yard line by Miami Dolphins inside linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (59) in the first quarter at Sun Life Stadium.
Robert Mayer, USA TODAY Sports

New England Patriots tight end Zach Sudfeld (44) celebrates a two point conversion with wide receiver Josh Boyce (82) during the first quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Gillette Stadium.
Stew Milne, USA TODAY Sports

New York Jets tight end Jeff Cumberland (87) celebrates with Mark Sanchez (6) after catching a pass for a touchdown in the first quarter of a preseason game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.
Andrew Weber, USA TODAY Sports

Detroit Lions wide receiver Matt Willis (12) catches a pass in the end zone for a touchdown while being defended by New York Jets running back Chad Spann (30) in the second quarter of a preseason game at Ford Field.
Andrew Weber, USA TODAY Sports

New England Patriots running back Shane Vereen (34) makes a touchdown catch against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half of a preseason game at Lincoln Financial Field.
Joe Camporeale, USA TODAY Sports

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) scrambles out of the pocket for a short gain during the first half against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium.
Christopher Hanewinckel, USA TODAY Sports

Dallas Cowboys running back Phillip Tanner (34) runs with the ball after losing his helmet in the second quarter of the 2013 Pro Football Hall of Fame game against the Miami Dolphins at Fawcett Stadium.
Andrew Weber, USA TODAY Sports

Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) is sacked by Dallas Cowboys defensive end Ben Bass (79) in the first quarter of the 2013 Pro Football Hall of Fame game at Fawcett Stadium.
Andrew Weber, USA TODAY Sports

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Through it all, Vick looked so comfortable. He's in his fifth system in 12 years, but the other night talked about how he's fallen in love with football again.

That's a serious comfort zone with Kelly's offense, which Vick says is simplified -- an interesting word in contrast to the notion that Reid might have overloaded Vick with too much.

It's just preseason, but the results are there -- so far -- and the attached confidence.

"I don't think I could have played any better than I've played," Vick said. "I'm just trying to keep that going."

Good decisions will be the ticket for Vick, assuming he wins the job. He doesn't have to make the risky, hero-highlight plays to help his team win.

For him, it will still be about limiting the mistakes. Last season, when he was limited to 10 games, he threw 10 interceptions and lost four fumbles -- and that a flood of turnovers came early set the tone for a disastrous campaign.

In his career, Vick has combined for 131 interceptions and fumbles (including those recovered by his team) while passing for 123 touchdowns.

That's not the ratio for maximum efficiency.

If the pattern changes, maybe that's when Kelly will really become comfortable trusting Vick as his quarterback.